Urban Herbalism – Making Potions from Your Backyard

Tellur Fenner has a dilemma: He’s passionate about helping people take control of their own health by collecting and preparing medicinal plants, but he worries that the recent popularity of wild foods may lead to local over-harvesting. As an Oakland-based herbalist who founded Blue Wind Botanical Clinic, the worry is at the center of his practice.

There’s millions of people using the parks and thousands of people interested in this alternative lifestyle,” he said. “It can quickly have serious repercussions to the plant communities of the Bay Area and damage to the landscape. I feel a responsibility.”

What’s the solution? Backyard gardening of native medicinals brings together strong local movements in permaculture, native plants and urban gardening and a means to creating powerful tinctures and tisanes without breaking any laws or damaging the environment.